Political Quotes

“Mr. President, suicide is the second leading cause of death among Native American young adults ages 15 to 24. It is 2\1/2\ times the national average. The despair my great friend from the great State of Alaska has just outlined for us--it seems there is no way out, that no one is looking, they are invisible, that their problems are inconsequential and no one cares. Yes, I thank my colleague from Alaska for that wonderful vision that this commission tells them they are not invisible to us, they are not invisible to the Congress, they are not invisible to the administration; that people are there and they care. Maybe it offers that hope. Maybe it offers that opportunity to tell more of these stories and to shine a greater light of awareness onto this problem. It is a national disgrace. If we continue to do what we have always done in housing, education, health care, and public safety, if we continue to do what we have always done, we will lose yet another generation to despair. It is time for Congress to step up, honor our treaty obligations and recognize that if we cannot protect the smallest among us, the most vulnerable, the most remote among us, that we aren't worthy of this body. We aren't worthy of this government.…”